Improvement in the manufacture of boots and shoes



'W. I. MARTIN.

MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

No.1-8Z 94'1, Patented Oct. 3, 1876.

Wxmssszs. luvsmmg N. PETERS. PNOTO L'ITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER T. MARTIN, OF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,941, dated October 3, 1876; application filed April 19, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER T. MARTIN, of Danvers, in the State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Shoe, of which the following is a specification:

The invention consists in inserting an elastic gore at the bottom of a side opening of a buttoned boot or shoe, to increase the opening capacity of the boot or shoe for the purpose of putting it on or taking it off without leaving at the bottom near the shank, when the boot or shoe is on the foot, an open seam or a seam closed merely by buttons, the object being to dispense with the ordinary vamp while securing a neat and yet easy fit over the instep, and permitting the line ofbuttons to extend from the top of the shoe to the shank in nearly a straight line, all as hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a buttoned boot made according to my invention, closed or buttoned up. Fig. 2 is the same boot unbuttoned and open.

In the figures, A is the elastic gore at the bottom of the opening. The opening is at the side, and extends from the top substantially to the shank, taking a slant along the shank for the insertion of the elastic gore, as shown.

The gore prevents the ripping of the boot at the bottom of the opening when pulled open for putting it on or taking it off.

The invention is of particular value in buttoned boots. Heretofore it has been found necessary in order to have a sightly boot to make it with a vamp when it has been fastened with buttons, the openings for the buttons coming down the side from the top for some distance, and then taking a turn at nearly right angles along the-top of the foot and terminating at the vamp.

Byinserting the elastic gore along the shank, as shown, I can extend the opening straight down to the shank, and do away with the vamp, making what is called in the trade a gypsy boot.

I claim A gypsy boot or shoe without a vamp, fast-' ened by a straight row of buttons at the side,

WALTER '1. MARTIN. Witnesses:

GEO. B. MARTIN, SAM. W. BATES. 

